Flats Fishing Trips in Belize

Turneffe Flats Fishing Lodge

Belize enjoys warm, semi-tropical weather year-round-a reason both fish and angler rush to its waters. A few times each winter, Belize will experience a cold snap that will yield great fishing prior, but not during the weather event, which may last 2-3 days. The best (and most successful) time of the year to fish occurs May through July, when cold fronts have stopped passing through and the sun never seems to disappear. While most species can be found year-round, many have usual stomping grounds during at least part of the year. The following trips are available at Turneffe Flats:

 

Belize Fishing
Belize Diving
Belize ecotourism
Belize bonefishing, Belize permit fishing and Belize tarpon fishing vacations
Belize offshore cayes SCUBA diving vacations
Belize marine ecotourism vacations

 

A country that can boast 176 miles of unrivalled barrier reef, hundreds of square miles of classic fishing flats, and intricate webs of emerald green rivers attracts more than just your avid fisherman. Fish cannot get enough of the Belizean waters either, which makes this destination ideal for a sport called "catching"-a favorite among expert fly fishermen and your average fish enthusiast of any age or skill level. The species diversity matches the assortment of fishing grounds and makes each trip truly remarkable.

 

Fly fishing is your game? Come play in these waters and bring your camera. Permit, bonefish, and tarpon are the marquee species anglers cross the globe to catch in the flats off the coasts of the cayes and mainland. Throughout the waterways of the country, anglers will find success. Belize boasts of a strong resident population of tarpon, with the largest members residing in the north around Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Tarpon average fifty pounds in the winter, while in the summer they fill out to well over a hundred pounds.

 

Tarpon fishing is quite seasonal as tarpon are migratory. Tarpon numbers begin to increase in April or May and drop off in September or October with peak tarpon months being June, July, and August. There are a few 'resident' tarpon around Turneffe throughout the year. Bonefish are present in equal numbers throughout the year and they are on the flats most of the time. This differentiates Turneffe's bonefish from those in other areas,  such as the Florida Keys, where bonefish only enter the flats in search of a meal. These are very lush flats full of crabs, shrimp and other bonefish foods. As a result, these fish can become selective. This can make for challenging fishing and the right tackle, flies, presentation and fishing techniques are all important.

 

Most permit are found a singles or in small groups on the flats and bars throughout the Turneffe Atoll, although we also frequently see larger schools of permit tailing in shallow water. Most of our permit fishing done from a poled skiff but we also see permit (often with their backs out of the water) on our wadeable ocean-side flats. You can expect plenty of shots at 10 to 20 lb. permit with some fish in the 30 to 40 lb. class. Permit fishing at Turneffe may afford you more shots than other destinations, but they are always challenging!

 

Turneffe Flats Lodge Pricing

 

Belize